JP2016536228A - Sample capture and transport unit - Google Patents

Abstract

The sample capture and transport unit includes a housing that defines a substrate chamber for receiving a sample capture substrate. The housing includes at least a first part and a second part, which are skinned on each other from i) a first closed shape inaccessible to the substrate chamber, and ii) a sample capture substrate contained in the substrate chamber. To allow capture of the print, it can be moved to a first open shape that allows access to the substrate chamber, and subsequently to a second closed shape that the substrate chamber cannot access again. The unit further includes a holding mechanism for holding it in the second closed shape. This retention mechanism makes it impossible for the unit to move from the second closed shape. The sample can be obtained at a first location and fixed and analyzed for transport at a second location.

Description

  Traces left by the human skin's friction ridge, for example human finger skin, contain information about human identification. The appearance of human finger traces, known as fingerprints, is unique to each person and is used to confirm the identity of the person. The appearance of the skin traces of other human parts is also unique to each person and can be used to verify the identity of the person. Such traces of human skin are not limited to the skin of human fingers and are called skin prints.

  In addition to the appearance of the trace left by the human skin, the trace itself contains chemical species that are detected to obtain other information.

  For example, when a human ingests a substance (eg, by ingestion, absorption, or injection through the mouth), the substance is metabolized by the human body to produce a secondary substance known as a metabolite. The presence of a specific metabolite indicates a specific ingested substance. Ingested substances and / or metabolites are present in sweat and are therefore left in skin prints such as fingerprints. Metabolites in such skin prints are non-invasive methods for testing compliance with recent lifestyle activities such as (but not limited to) drug use, or regimes of pharmaceutical or therapeutic treatment Can be used as

  Importantly, obtaining a skin print is much simpler than obtaining other body fluids such as blood, saliva, urine, and is feasible in a wider range of situations. Not only this, but the appearance of the skin print itself also provides confirmation of the identity of the person providing the skin print, so there is a greater certainty that the substance, or the substance in the skin print, is associated with the individual. This is because skin print alternatives, especially fingerprints, are immediately identified from appearance, while alternatives such as urine are not immediately identified from appearance. As such, testing of one or more substances in a skin print provides a direct link between one or more substances and the person providing the skin print.

  It is therefore important that the substrate from which the skin print is taken before or after the skin trace is taken is not contaminated (either unconsciously or consciously). The substrate is accessed only for a short time while the skin print is taken and is not accessed again until the skin print signature is analyzed under strictly controlled conditions to avoid contamination.

Against such a background, a sample capture and transport unit is provided, which includes a housing defining a substrate chamber for receiving a sample capture substrate, the housing comprising at least a first part and a second part. They include each other,
i) from a first closed shape inaccessible to the substrate chamber;
ii) in a first open shape accessible to the substrate chamber to enable capture of the skin print on the sample capture substrate contained in the substrate chamber, and subsequently
iii) the substrate chamber can be moved to a second closed shape that cannot be accessed again;
The sample capture and transport unit further includes a retention mechanism for retaining the sample capture and transport unit in a second closed shape, the retention mechanism from which the sample capture and transport unit is removed from the second closed shape. Make it impossible to move.

  The substrate may be a material suitable for analysis performed on the sample. The substrate may be flat. The substrate may be opaque or transparent depending on the analytical technique and / or image used. The substrate may have marks printed, molded or etched on the surface of the substrate to indicate where the sample is placed. The substrate may be permanently inserted into the housing or may be detached from the housing for analysis purposes in limited circumstances, for example by releasing a clip.

  The holding mechanism may take various shapes. For example, it may include pure mechanical parts, may include one or more electromechanical parts, such as electromagnets, may include a key, or may include a plurality of further alternatives. May be included.

  In this way, the sample capture and transport unit effectively prevents accidental or intentional release from the second closed position until the retention mechanism is disabled.

  The retention mechanism is a disabling means that can invalidate the retention mechanism, and the first and second portions of the sample capture and transport unit may move relative to each other in order to exit the second closed shape.

  If the holding mechanism includes only one mechanism part, disabling the holding mechanism includes movement of one part relative to the other, for example to release it from the other. In the case of a key, revocation includes key release, which may or may not be in the form of a conventional key. In the case of a holding mechanism having one or more electromagnetic components, it may include the step of sending a signal and / or changing the voltage level, for example to release the electromagnet. The disabling of the holding means may, in lieu of or in addition to any of the above, damage or destroy the holding mechanism so that it no longer functions and the first and second parts of the housing move relative to each other. The second closed shape may be escaped.

  In this way, it is possible to obtain a sample at the first position and fix the sample so that subsequent access to the sample is prevented until released, and the release is performed at the second position. The sample may be analyzed at the second position. The lack of access to the sample (and hence no contamination) between acquisition and analysis has the advantage of providing the possibility of a safe evidence trail.

  Further, having no access to the substrate (and therefore not contaminated) prior to receipt of the skin print has the advantage of providing the possibility of a safe evidence trail.

  The sample capture and transport unit further has tampering characteristics, and access to the retention mechanism to override the retention mechanism is obtained only once by operating the tampering characteristics.

  The tampering characteristic may take various forms. It has access to anything other than destroying, removing, or otherwise irreversibly altering or damaging the tampering characteristics, in order to make it tampering with the tampering characteristics immediately, visually, or so It may include fragile elements such as perforated parts, pull tabs, penetrating parts, or other features. Alternatively or in addition, it may include one or more electronic tamper-open components. For example, the tamper characteristic includes one or more sensors and one or more output devices, and one or more electronic outputs are changed when the tamper characteristic is activated. In one particular example, this may be on or off of one or more LED switches. For example, the first color LED is formed to emit light of the first color when the tampering characteristic is not activated, and the second color LED is formed when the tampering characteristic is activated. You may form so that the light of a 2nd color may be irradiated. Alternatively, the LED may irradiate light only when the tampering characteristic is activated. Those skilled in the art will further recognize a plurality of possible LED arrangements for notifying whether the tampering feature has been activated.

  Further alternatively, the tampering feature may include an RF tag that operates by moving the sample capture and transport unit out of the second closed position, if the tag has already been activated prior to the intended analysis time. If it is, it becomes clear that the transport unit has already been moved from the second closed position and is therefore contaminated.

  Further alternatively, the tamper-evident property is determined immediately when analyzing the substrate (eg, by optical or chemical analysis) in the sample capture and transport unit when it operates. Alternatively, a permanent substance such as a chemical marker may be released.

  The tampering characteristic may be any characteristic that indicates that the sample capture and transport unit has been moved from the second closed position. This means of display may be directly visible to humans or otherwise detectable.

  Access to the retention mechanism for disabling the retention mechanism may be restricted.

  Such restrictions may include, for example, an opening formed so that the corresponding specially formed part passes straight through but otherwise difficult to access.

  The sample capture and transport unit may further include an irreversible characteristic that prevents movement from the first open shape to the first closed shape.

  Such irreversible characteristics include one or more mechanical components and / or one or more electromechanical components and may optionally be combined with control electronics.

  The sample capture and transport unit may further include a second opening configured to be accessible only by disabling the retention mechanism.

In a further aspect, the present invention includes a machine for analyzing a sample received on a sample capture substrate disposed in a substrate chamber of a sample capture and transport unit, the machine comprising:
Means are included to engage the sample capture and transport unit to disable or damage the retaining element that prevents movement from the first open shape to the first closed shape.

  If the sample capture and transport unit includes tampering characteristics, the machine may include means for checking whether the tampering characteristics have been activated. In addition, the machine may reject sample capture and transport units that have been tampered with.

In a further form, the present invention obtains a sample at a first location, secures the sample for movement, and uses a sample capture and transport unit and a sample capture substrate contained therein to provide a second Including a method of analyzing a sample at a location, the method comprising:
Moving the sample capture and transport unit from a first closed shape to a first open shape at a first position;
Receiving a sample on a sample capture substrate disposed in a substrate chamber;
Moving the sample capture and transport unit from a first open shape to a second closed shape; and
Disabling the retention mechanism to access the sample capture substrate for analysis.

  In this way, once the sample is received on the substrate, the sample capture and transport unit is held in the second closed shape, and subsequently disables the holding mechanism to access the sample capture substrate for analysis. Prior to conversion, the sample capture and transport unit can be moved to a second position.

  Those forms of the present invention are particularly suitable for fingerprints, but they are not limited to these, but can be any of those such as ear prints, toe prints, and palm prints. It may be used in connection with skin prints. Furthermore, the sample capture and transport unit may be used to accept samples other than skin prints. For example, sweat may be provided to the substrate by a cotton swab rather than directly through a fingerprint. Other body fluids and other types of samples may be applied to the substrate as well.

  Particular embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 shows a front view of a sample capture and storage unit according to a first embodiment of the invention. FIG. Fig. 3 shows a top view of a sample capture and storage unit frame of a first embodiment of a sample capture and storage unit. Figure 3 shows the outside of the front shutter of the first embodiment of the sample capture and storage unit. Figure 3 shows the inside of the front shutter of the first embodiment of the sample capture and storage unit. FIG. 5 shows an in-situ portion of the first embodiment of the sample capture and storage unit through the front shutter of FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a first embodiment of a sample capture and storage unit. FIG. 2 shows an internal view of a rear shutter of a first example of a sample capture and storage unit. FIG. 3 shows a perspective internal view of a rear shutter of a first example of a sample capture and storage unit. A rear view of the fingerprint capture and storage unit of the first embodiment of the sample capture and storage unit is shown, with the fragile elements of the rear cover broken to show access to the pins. Figure 3 shows the bottom of the frame of the first embodiment of the sample capture and storage unit. FIG. 3 shows an external view of the rear shutter of the first embodiment of the sample capture and storage unit with the rear shutter cover removed.

  In a first embodiment, the sample capture and transport unit 1 includes a transparent substrate, optionally made of glass. The substrate includes a front surface for receiving a skin print and a back surface facing the front surface.

  The substrate is contained in the housing 2 and is held in the housing 2 by a holding clip. Except where it is necessary to expose (especially to accept skin prints and for analysis), the housing 2 serves to protect the substrate. In order to protect the light-disturbing substrate present on the substrate, the housing may be opaque. The housing 2 includes a frame 20 with a substrate receiving portion 26, as best shown in FIG. The housing 2 also includes a front shutter 10 (best shown in FIG. 1) and a rear shutter (best shown in FIG. 6). The front shutter 10 includes an inner surface 10a facing the substrate inward and an outer surface 10b facing outward. The front shutter 10 further includes a thumb grip 18 on the outer surface 10b of the front shutter 10. The rear shutter 30 includes an inner surface 30a facing the substrate inward and an outer surface 30b facing outward.

  The front shutter 10 exposes the surface of the substrate, particularly for receiving a skin print, from a first closed position (shown in FIG. 1) where the surface of the substrate is covered with the front shutter 10 relative to the frame 20. It can be moved to the first open position.

  The front shutter 10 is also movable with respect to the frame 20 from a first open position to a second closed position where the surface of the substrate is covered by the front shutter 10.

  The inner surface 10a of the front shutter 10 includes a branched channel arrangement 11 that is best seen in FIG. The branched channel arrangement 11 includes a first portion 12 including a common channel 13 and a second portion 14 including a first channel 15 and a second channel 16, wherein the first channel 15 and the second channel 16 are substantially Parallel. The first channel includes a protrusion 18 and the second channel includes a first detent 17.

  The rear shutter 30 includes a body 33, a first elongated portion 34, and a second elongated member 35. The first elongate member 34 has a proximal end 34a extending from the body 33 and a distal end 34b. Thereby, the distal end 34 b has some flexibility with respect to the body 33. The first pin 31 is disposed at the distal end 34 b of the first elongate member 34 and extends from the inner surface 30 a of the rear shutter 30. The first elongate member 34 has two parallel beams that serve to increase the flexibility of the distal end 34b of the elongate member 34 relative to the body.

  The second elongate member 35 has a proximal end 35a extending from the body 33 and a distal end 35b. Thereby, the distal end 35 b has some flexibility with respect to the body 33. The second pin 32 is disposed at the distal end 35 b of the second elongated member 35 and extends from the inner surface 30 a of the rear shutter 30. The third pin 39 is disposed at the distal end 35b of the second elongate member 35 (as shown in FIG. 11) and extends from the outer surface 30b of the rear shutter 30.

  The first pin 31 has a diamond-shaped cross section, the second pin 32 has a rectangular cross section, and the third pin 39 has a circular cross section. The first pin 31 is arranged to project through the opening 21 in the frame 20 (as best shown in FIG. 10) and is held in the branched channel arrangement 11 of the front shutter 10. . The opening 21 has a shape that does not work so as to prevent pin movement in the branched channel arrangement 11 of the front shutter 10.

  In the first closed position of the front shutter (FIGS. 1 and 3), the first pin 31 is arranged at or toward the end of the first channel 15 furthest from the common channel 13.

  By sliding the front shutter 10 from the first closed position to the first closed position, the first pin 31 advances along the first channel 15 into the common channel 13. Protrusions 18 in the first channel provide resistance that must be overcome in order for the front shutter to move from the first closed position to the first open position. The protrusion has a smooth cross-sectional shape in which the width of the first channel 15 gradually decreases. The resistance must be happy for the diamond-shaped first pin 31 to pass through the protrusion. The purpose of the resistance is to avoid unintentionally moving the front shutter from the first closed position to the first open position. For example, it may occur if the sample capture and transport unit 1 is arranged so that the common channel 13 is below the first channel 15, and the first from the first closed position simply by gravity. Avoid moving the front shutter to the open position.

  In the first open position of the front shutter 10, the first pin 31 is disposed at or toward the end of the common channel 13 farthest from the first channel 15 and the second channel 16.

  When the front shutter 10 is slid again from the first open position to the second closed position using the thumb grip 18, the first pin 31 moves along the common channel 13 into the second channel 16. move on. The front shutter 10 is first closed because the effectiveness of one or more kinks in the first channel 15 and / or the second channel 16 prevents the first pin from moving to the first channel. Prevented from returning to position. Alternatively or additionally, the bias effect on the first pin 31 may prevent the first pin 31 from moving into the first channel 15. In the particular embodiment described herein, as the first channel 15 approaches the common channel 13, the axis of the first channel 15 diverges from the axis of the common channel 13. Conversely, as the second channel 16 approaches the common channel 13, the axis of the second channel 16 merges with the axis of the common channel 13.

  Thus, when the first pin moves through the first channel 15 toward the common channel 13, the bias across the axis of the first channel 15 increases. Once the first pin 31 enters the common channel 13, it returns to the unbiased lateral position.

  If the first pin moves through the common channel 13 toward the second channel 16, the first pin 31 is not biased, for example, if it moves in the axial direction and enters the first channel 15, it is required. There is no lateral bias. As a result, the first pin 31 enters the second channel 16. When the first pin moves in the second channel 16 away from the common channel 13, the axis of the second channel 16 diverges from the axis of the common channel 13, which means that the first pin 31 is lateral. It means that the bias is increased in the direction.

  In the second closed position, the first pin 31 is located in the end of the second channel 16 furthest from the common channel 13 or is received in the first detent 17 towards the end. The acceptance of the first pin 31 in the first detent 17 is caused by a lateral bias on the pin. Once the pin is moved laterally and received in the first detent 17, the lateral bias is greatly reduced or eliminated.

  In the second closed position, the first pin 31 is received in the first detent 17, and the diamond-shaped cross section of the first pin 31 is combined with the step-shaped first detent 17, The absence of a bias to 31 means that the first pin 31 cannot be removed from the first detent 17. As such, the front shutter 10 is prevented from moving from the second closed position to the first open position.

  Under certain circumstances, the rear shutter 30 is moved from a closed position where the back surface of the substrate is covered by the rear shutter 30 to an open position where the back surface of the substrate is exposed for analysis of the appearance of the skin print through the transparent substrate. Is movable.

  The frame 20 includes an elongated groove 23 that includes a second detent 24. When the rear shutter 30 is closed, the second pin 32 of the rear shutter is held in the second detent 24.

  In the rear shutter 30, in the closed position of the rear shutter 30, the fragile element 35 is close to the second detent 24 in the frame 20, and the third pin 39 destroys, removes, or so on the fragile element 35. Otherwise, it includes a cover having a fragile element 35 arranged so that it can only move by irreversibly damaging. As such, the fragile element 35 provides evidence of whether the pin 39 has moved. If the fragile element 35 is damaged, there is evidence that the third pin 39 is movable such that it is not clear that the substrate is not contaminated. The fragile element 35 therefore serves as a tamper-open characteristic of the sample capture and transport unit 1.

  Breaking the fragile element 35 allows access to the third pin 39. Once accessible, the third pin can move laterally so that the distal end 35b of the second elongate member 34 can also move laterally. This has the additional effect of moving the second pin 32 laterally and removing the second pin 32 from the second detent 24. As described above, the second pin 32 slides along the groove 23, and the rear shutter 30 can be opened to a position where the rear shutter 30 is opened with respect to the frame 20. Below the fragile element 35 is an elongated slot 40 perpendicular to the elongated groove 23. Once the tamper characteristic is activated, the elongated actuator is received in the elongated slot 40. The movement of the elongated actuator in a direction parallel to the elongated groove 23 causes the second pin 32 to slide in the sliding direction in the elongated groove 23.

  Since the first pin 31 is fixedly attached to the rear shutter 30, in the second closed position of the front shutter 10, the first pin 31 is received in the first detent 17 and the first pin 31 is The rear shutter 30 is fixedly connected to the front shutter 10 by preventing movement with respect to the front shutter 10.

  As a result, when the second pin 32 is removed from the second detent 23 and moved along the groove 23 to open the rear shutter 30, it moves from the second closed position to the second opened position. As a result, the front shutter 10 is also opened at the same time.

  The use of the sample capture and transport unit 1 is described below.

  The sample capture and transport unit 1 comprises a front shutter 10 in a first closed position and a rear shutter in a closed position.

  To receive a skin print, the front shutter 10 is manually moved relative to the frame 20 from a first closed position to a first open position. The user may influence this movement by sliding the front shutter 10 using the thumb grip 18. In the first open position, the surface of the substrate held in the substrate receiving portion 26 of the frame 20 is accessible through the open front shutter 10. A skin print may then be received on the surface of the substrate.

  Once the skin print trace is left on the surface of the substrate, the front shutter 10 may be moved relative to the frame 20 to the second closed position. The second closed position prevents the front shutter 10 from sliding and reopening with respect to the foam 20. This is because, as explained above, the diamond-shaped first pin 31 is received in the first detent 17 and held in the first detent 17 so that the first pin 31 is fixed. The front shutter 10 is fixed to the rear shutter 30 attached in this manner.

  To open the front shutter 10 and the rear shutter 30 for skin print analysis, the fragile element 35 is destroyed to access the third pin 39. Thereby, the third pin 39 may move laterally so that the second pin 32 is released from the second detent 24 and can freely move along the groove 23. The movement of the rear shutter 30 to the open position may be influenced by an elongated actuator received in an elongated slot 40 disposed behind the fragile element 35 once the fragile element 35 is actuated. When the second pin 32 is released from the second detent 24, when the rear shutter 30 moves with respect to the frame 20, when the second pin 32 moves along the groove 23, the rear shutter 30 moves to the open position. To do.

  At the same time, the front shutter 10 is fixedly attached to the rear shutter 30 by the force of the first pin 31 (fixed and attached to the rear shutter 30 and held in the first detent 17). When 30 moves from the closed position to the open position, the front shutter 10 also moves from the second closed position to the second open position.

  Both front shutter 10 and rear shutter 30 expose both sides of the substrate for analysis of skin print traces left on the surface of the substrate.

  The breakage of the fragile element 35 may be performed by an analysis machine. The analysis machine receives the sample capture and transport unit 1 and automatically breaks the fragile element 35, moves the third pin 39 laterally and releases the second pin 32 from the second detent 24, The second pin 32 may be moved along the groove 23. Next, since the second pin 32 is no longer prevented from sliding along the groove 23, the rear shutter 30 may be slid to the open position. While the rear shutter 30 is moved to the opened position in this way, the front shutter 10 is also moved to the second opened position at the same time.

  The analysis machine then analyzes the skin print from either the front surface of the substrate, the back surface of the substrate, or both. This analysis takes various forms. One option is that an image of the skin print (ie, an optical image) is acquired through the back side of the transparent substrate for analysis. This analysis may include, for example, a comparison of this image with a database of skin print images to identify the identity of the skin print. In addition, a chemical analysis of the skin print may be performed on the surface of the substrate.

  It is not essential to the present invention that the sample capture and transport unit 1 includes both a front shutter and a rear shutter. For many applications, only one shutter is required. The substrate may not be transparent, which means that a conventional transmission optical image cannot be obtained through the back side of the substrate.

  If access to the back of the substrate is not required, a simpler sample capture and transport unit than the first embodiment is also satisfactory. In such an alternative embodiment, the branched channel arrangement is retained, but the rear shutter is not present and the groove 23 and the second detent 24 are not present in the frame. Instead, an alternative fragile element is provided to provide access to the first pin 31 in the event of failure and is biased laterally out of the first detent 17 to 31 may move along the second channel 16 so that the front shutter 10 can move from the second closed position to the first open position.

  As those skilled in the art can readily appreciate, the particular arrangement of channels, grooves and detents is not the essence of the present invention. In its broadest form, the invention, as defined by the appended claims, can be manually opened and locked once closed, breaking fragile members, or otherwise from its appearance. Only by damaging the sample capture and transport unit in a way that is readily apparent requires a shutter that can be opened again.

  Also within the scope of the present disclosure is a machine for skin printing received on a sample capture substrate disposed in a substrate chamber of a sample capture and transport unit as described above.

  The machine may include means for meshing with the sample capture and transport unit to overcome the influence of the guide element that prevents moving from the first open shape to the first closed shape.

  The machine may further be one that breaks the tampering characteristics and eliminates the irreversible characteristics, thereby allowing access to the sample capture substrate.

  The machine receives a sample capture and transport unit therein, allows access to the sample capture substrate in the manner described above, and aligns the sample capture substrate within the machine for analysis of the substrate. Slots may be included.

Claims (29)

A sample capture and transport unit comprising a housing defining a substrate chamber for containing a sample capture substrate, the housing comprising at least a first part and a second part, which are mutually connected,
i) from a first closed shape inaccessible to the substrate chamber;
ii) in a first open shape accessible to the substrate chamber to enable capture of the skin print on the sample capture substrate contained in the substrate chamber, and subsequently
iii) the substrate chamber can be moved to a second closed shape that cannot be accessed again;
The sample capture and transport unit further includes a retention mechanism for retaining the sample capture and transport unit in a second closed shape, the retention mechanism from which the sample capture and transport unit is removed from the second closed shape. Sample capture and transport unit that makes it impossible to move.   The sample capture and transport unit according to claim 1, further comprising a tampering feature, wherein access to the retention mechanism for disabling the retention mechanism is obtained only by operating the tampering feature.   The sample capture and transport unit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein access to the retention mechanism for disabling the retention mechanism is limited.   The sample capture and transport unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an irreversible characteristic that prevents movement from the first open shape to the first closed shape.   The sample capture and transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a second opening shape configured to be accessible only by disabling the retention mechanism.   The tamper-evident characteristic includes an unbroken initial shape that is inaccessible to the holding mechanism and a broken shape that allows access to the holding mechanism and invalidates the holding mechanism. A sample capture and transport unit according to any of the claims dependent on.   7. A sample capture and transport unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the retention mechanism includes a biasing member and a detent in which the biasing member is received in the second closed position.   The sample capture and transport unit of claim 7, wherein the first portion of the housing includes a biasing member and the second portion of the housing includes a detent. The second portion of the housing includes a channel arrangement;
The sample capture and transport unit of claim 8, wherein the biasing member of the first portion of the housing includes a first pin retained in the channel arrangement. The channel arrangement is
A first portion including a common channel;
A second portion comprising a first channel and a second channel that are substantially parallel;
The sample capture and transport unit of claim 9, comprising a branch channel arrangement having: In the first closed shape, the pin is disposed in the first channel;
In a first open shape, the pins are arranged in a common channel; and
11. A sample capture and transport unit according to claim 10, wherein in the second closed shape, the pin is disposed in the second channel.   12. A sample capture and transport unit according to claim 10 or 11, wherein the second channel includes a detent and the biasing member includes a first pin.   The first channel includes a protrusion that is formed to provide resistance to pin movement in the first channel, the resistance being sampled from a first closed shape to a first open shape. 13. Sample capture and transport unit according to claim 11 or 12, overcome to move the capture and transport unit. The first part of the housing includes a frame and the second part of the housing includes a front shutter, or the second part of the housing includes a frame and the first part of the housing includes a front shutter;
14. A sample capture and transport unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the frame includes a substrate chamber. And a rear shutter of the housing that can move from a closed position to an open position,
A first closed shape of the housing;
A first open shape of the housing; and
A second closed shape of the housing;
The sample capturing and transporting unit according to claim 1, wherein the rear shutter is formed in a closed position.   15. The rear shutter is directly or indirectly dependent on claim 5 configured to move to an open position based on the sample capture and transport unit moving to a second open configuration. Sample capture and transport unit as described in.   17. The sample capture and transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 16, further comprising a sample capture substrate disposed in the substrate chamber.   18. The sample capture and transport unit according to claim 17, wherein the sample capture substrate is made of a material that can transmit electromagnetic radiation.   19. A sample capture and transport unit according to claim 18, wherein the sample capture substrate is made of a material that is transparent to visible electromagnetic radiation.   18. A sample capture and transport unit according to claim 17, wherein the sample capture substrate is made of metal, preferably aluminum or a metal alloy.   21. A sample capture and transport unit according to any preceding claim, wherein the first and second closed shapes are impermeable to light.   The sample capture and transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 21, wherein the skin print is a fingerprint. A machine for analyzing a sample received on a sample capture substrate disposed in a substrate chamber of a sample capture and transport unit according to any of claims 1-22, comprising:
A machine comprising means for meshing with the sample capture and transport unit to defeat a retaining element that prevents movement from the first open shape to the first closed shape.   24. A machine according to claim 23 for use with a sample capture and transport unit according to claim 2 or any claim dependent on claim 2, wherein the machine operates and holds the tampering characteristics. A machine configured to disable use and thereby access the sample capture substrate. A machine according to claim 23 or 24, wherein the machine
Fluorescence analyzer,
A Raman spectrometer for one or more of the far ultraviolet, visible, or infrared,
Mass spectrometer, and
A machine comprising one or more of a chromatography unit. A sample is obtained at a first location, the sample is fixed for movement, and second using a sample capture and transport unit according to any of claims 1 to 22 and a sample capture substrate contained therein. A method for analyzing a sample at a position of
Moving the sample capture and transport unit from a first closed shape to a first open shape at a first position;
Receiving a sample on a sample capture substrate disposed in a substrate chamber;
Moving the sample capture and transport unit from a first open shape to a second closed shape; and
Disabling the retention mechanism to access the sample capture substrate for analysis. After the step of moving the sample capture and transport unit from the first open shape to the second closed shape, the step further comprises:
27. The method of claim 26, comprising disabling the retention mechanism to move the sample capture and transport unit to a second location and access the sample capture substrate for analysis.   28. A method according to claim 26 or 27, wherein accessing the sample capture substrate comprises activating a tamper-evident feature to invalidate a retention mechanism of the sample capture and transport unit.   29. A method according to any of claims 26 to 28, wherein the step of disabling the retention mechanism, accessing the sample capture substrate for analysis, and then analyzing the sample capture substrate is performed by a machine.

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